[Woodcarver] Crucifix restoration

[Ivan Whillock Studio]

Some hints from experience:

1. If the fire has been fairly recent and the wood is still ultra dry from
the fire, you may want to go slow on the restoration.  As moisture returns
to the wood, some of the cracks may close.  Putting shims in too soon can
create other stresses.

2. When restoring the color I prefer oils as they retain their color wet or
dry.  You can then match the colors with more certainty.  Acrylics darken as
they dry, so the color you matched wet doesn't turn out to be the same shade
when it has dried.

3.  The statue looks like it was made in the Tyrol.  That means it was made
from linden.  It is a sister to basswood but not identical.  Matching the
wood tones is even more complicated due to the fact that you will be adding
new wood to old wood, wood that has "aged" and has a different patina.  When
you add the bigger shims, try to make them follow the grain angle (not
merely the direction) of the original--down grain reflects light differently
than up grain.

4.  The finish looks like it was a transparent application with the wood
grain showing through.  Experiment with staining the new wood to an aged
wood tone before adding the color.

Ivan Whillock Studio
122 NE 1st Avenue
Faribault, MN 55021
Visit my website at
 http://www.whillock.com
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